Senator George W. Bassett View All Years

GEORGE W. BASSETT who died at Elsinore, California, on the 6th of February, was an old-time resident of Iowa, and for many years a well known and prominent citizen. He was born in Canada West in 1827. His maternal grandfather was a soldier of the American Revolution and a member of Congress during Washington’s administration. He lost an arm at the battle of Bennington. Mr. Bassett’s parents returned to the United States when he was a child and settled in the West. He entered Wabash College when a young man, earning money by manual labor to pay his way while pursuing his studies. After finishing his course at Wabash, he entered the law school at Cincinnati. After graduating there he came to Des Moines in 1856, and entered the law office of Hon. John A. Kasson. In 1858 he went to Fort Dodge and formed a law partnership with Judge W. N. Meservey which continued until he enlisted in the Union army, in 1861, in a Fort Dodge company, which was attached to the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He served in the army of the Potomac as a Lieutenant of his company. He was twice wounded in battle, and so disabled that he was mustered out in 1862. His service as a soldier was performed as every other duty by him, faithfully and conscientiously. Though in poor health, he never complained, and was always ready to do his utmost for the noble cause in which he had enlisted. He returned to Fort Dodge, and in the fall of 1863 was elected to the State Senate, representing the 43rd district which then embraced twenty-eight counties of northwestern Iowa–more than one third of the entire territory of the State. His District extended from the east line of Hancock county west to the Missouri river at Sioux City, and from the south line of Harrison county to Minnesota on the north. He served with marked ability in the Tenth and Eleventh General Assemblies, representing the varied interests of his district to the satisfaction of his widely extended constituency. He was for nearly twenty years general agent for the lease and sale of the lands embraced in the Agricultural College grant to Iowa, and conducted that business successfully, handling more than 200,000 acres to the satisfaction of the State and the College. Several years ago his failing health required a milder climate, and he removed to California, marrying late in life. He leaves a widow and a bright little girl of five. A close friend of Mr. Bassett writes of him: “As student, soldier, public official or business man, no influence that was not wholesome and beneficial ever came from him. His integrity knew no temptations. His conduct and career were not guided by considerations of passing interest or policy, but by principles of life to which he was true without calculation or debate.”